Southwest Men's Basketball Team Ranked In Pre-Season Polls

The Southwest men's basketball team will begin the 2011-12 season ranked in two pre-season polls. The Saluqis were selected as the number four team in The Sporting News' pre-season rankings and are 19th in the NJCAA's Division 1 pre-season poll.

Southwest returns three starters from last season's Region VII tournament runner-up team. Point guard Brian Blackmon and forward Cortez Wilder are both returning starters who were selected to the Region VII all-tournament team. On the season, Blackmon averaged 8.4 points per game and led the team with 80 assists, while Wilder averaged 12.3 points per game and led the team with 7.8 rebounds per game. The third returning starter is shooting guard Joshua Wilkerson, who averaged 8.4 points per game and led the team with 36 three-point field goals. Also back for their sophomore seasons are guard Gary Love and forwards Antonio Coleman and Reginald Porter. All three players were key reserves last year as freshmen.

Both the Saluqis and Lady Saluqis will open the 2011-12 season on October 28 at the Verties Sails Gymnasium against Southwest Alumni teams. The women's game will tip off at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m. The Saluqis will also play an exhibition game against the Spirit Express on October 30 at 2 p.m. at the Verties Sails Gymnasium.